The government will shortly announce a review of legal aid legislation, Justice Secretary Liz Truss has announced.
The Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act, commonly known as LASP0, introduced sharp cuts to legal aid when it came into force on April 1 2013. The Ministry of Justice is required to review the effects of the legislation within five years of its introduction but the controversial nature of the cuts has meant that the department has come under pressure to begin the review as soon as possible.
Labour MP and Shadow Justice Secretary Richard Burgon raised the issue in the House of Commons, saying the government should respond to demands for reconsideration of the legislation.
In response, Liz Truss insisted that the a review was already on the cards:
“We have already announced a review of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 [when the legislation came into force] – we will shortly be announcing the timetable – but we need a system that is both open and affordable, which is exactly what the government are delivering.”
If there is any option for those of us who know what we are talking about to be heard then who should be at the top of the pike?
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We all know the answer.
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It is the person whose opponent is given legal aid but who is himself – usually HIMself – not eligible. There are even voices raised to say that he should not be allowed to cross examine in person!
If one litigant is given legal aid the other should be entitled to it subject to means but without a test of merit. Article 6, you know?
I think it’s clear Andrew, that many within the legal profession have no respect for Human Rights. You and I have raised this issue on numerous occasions yet the pro legal aid mob choose to ignore it. It’s this sort of blatant unfairness and reluctance by those in the legal profession to acknowledge such blatant unfairness and human rights breaches that brought the legal aid system into disrepute. Total hypocrisy….
If you are successful and the government bill for legal aid rises all you will do is increase the speed at which many of your services will be replaced.